12:52 AM,
Nov. 12, 2013

Scott Gontko, Russell Petroleum Corp. controller, stands outside the Western Boulevard business on Monday. Wayne Russell, CEO of the company, said 'It's just another cost we have for being in business.'

Written by

Kala Kachmar
kkachmar@gannett.com

Montgomery business owners are unhappy about the city's abrupt decision to eliminate a discount on gasoline and lodging taxes.

In August, the Montgomery City Council voted to eliminate a 3 percent discount on lodging and gasoline taxes levied by the city. The council also reduced a maximum cap on a sales tax discount from $400 to $100.

"We were the only city we could find in the state that was allowing such discounts," said Chuck Wilson, revenue manager for the city. "We had nothing in writing that could back up (where) the authorization for the discount came from." ...